Naked Voices Expands, Adds Haverkamp
July 27, 2012 by Andrew Schneider
Chicago-based voiceover-only agency Naked Voices more than doubled in size this month, picking up the talent roster and agent Laurie Haverkamp from Innovative Artists Chicago.
Haverkamp officially left Innovative to work at Naked Voices July 2 and brought with her a talent roster including the voices of the aforementioned campaigns, Robyn Moler and David Pasquesi. Pasquesi can be seen in Woody Allen’s latest film release, “To Rome with Love”.
“I brought all of my top talent here with me,” Haverkamp says. “We have close to two hundred exclusive actors here now.”
Haverkamp has been an agent since 2001 working on jobs ranging from Kellogg’s Special K to the current State Farm campaign. She says the move is good for her and her roster.
“I think that this is going to give my actors more opportunities in the long run,” she says. “Innovative was never here, they were in LA, it was run from there. It’s nice to be at a place where it’s all done in-house.”
She joins Brett Sechrist, at Naked Voices since September of 2011. He has a specialty in animation/interactive media, Sechrist was previously employed at AVO Talent in Hollywood where he represented such notable talent as Kath Soucie (Rugrats), Marcia Wallace (The Simpsons) and Bill Farmer (Goofy). Since relocating to Chicago, Sechrist has booked talent on a Cartoon Network pilot, a “Wizard of Oz” pinball game, and numerous other animated projects.
“I am extremely thrilled that Laurie and Brett have joined Naked Voices and look forward to infusing their expertise and breadth of experience into what Naked Voices already offers.”, says Debby Kotzen, the agency’s founder. “They also possess dynamic energy, fresh ideas and extensive contacts, which will hopefully launch Naked Voices into Chicago’s number one choice for voiceover talent”.
“I had been running this company by myself since 2000,” she continued. “With the addition of Brett and Laurie I now have time to do all the other things that you have to do in business, especially because with all this new talent comes additional workload.”
Naked Voices, Inc was established in 2000 and represents exclusive talent for TV & radio commercials, animated series, non-broadcast industrials, video games, promos, films, talking toys and all types of new media. They are a SAG/AFTRA-franchised agency.
“Naked Voices is a great agency, but I’ve been told that we’ve been flying under the radar,” Debby says. “The staff and roster additions mean more exposure for the talent, the people who we’re working with and with more exposure comes more work. I think the talent is excited. It’s a good move for us.”